Windows only finds the 32GB mSSD not HD when installing

Windows only finds the 32GB mSSD not HD when installing

Hi all,

I really do hope that someone can offer me some help as this problem is really making me want to chuck this machine in the bin and give up on Windows all together.

My machine is one of these HP elitebook laptops that has both a 32GB mSSD drive as well as a separate 500GB hard drive, both drives function together using intel rapid storage technology and the 32GB drive acts as a "cache drive" in order to speed up the system performance and general speed etc.

Bearing that in mind, I am having severe problems actually installing Windows on the HD as that drive doesn't show up on the list of destinations to install Windows too. I only see the 32GB mSSD which is useless as a "C" drive. I have changed what feels like all the settings in the bios to try and disable the mSSD however if I do that then nothing shows up on the destination drive listing.

I initially thought it was something to do with RAID and AHCI as there is a way of choosing between the two of them but again that does nothing.

What am I missing ? can anyone give me some idea of what I am going wrong ?

As a last resort I tried to add the INF files for the storage drivers onto the USB drive I am using to install WIndows, that finds the controller however that doesn't do anything to show the HD.

I am not much of a computer wiz, but...we homeschool and therefore a lot of files are saved. I am wondering what the best way to backup my files is!? what involvement does sky drive have in this? I purchased a 32GB usb flash drive and am nervous to plug it in not knowing what I am doing...I read...

I just rebuilt my computer (i7-3770k). When I built my last computer (i7-920), I thought 12GB (3x4GB) of triple channel was "crazy talk." 4GB was the norm and 64 bit was just starting to become normal. Turns out, it was a good amount over the lifespan of the computer.
Besides gaming, browsing,...